The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) discussed efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza and arrange a prisoner exchange deal with Israel on Friday with other Palestinian factions.
In a statement, Hamas said that as part of the joint national work, continuous consultation, and communication in facing the Israeli aggression, a delegation from the movement met with the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Ziad Nakhala, and the Deputy Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Jamil Mizher.
Hamas explained that they discussed with them the field and political developments and the efforts made by the resistance to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
According to the statement, the meetings reviewed the detailed ideas being circulated with mediators (Egypt, Qatar, and the United States), especially those discussed in recent days.
The participants confirmed that the resistance's goals in any initiative or efforts made are to stop the aggression on our people, especially on the Gaza Strip, withdraw the occupation army, provide relief to our people, rebuild, and ensure a fair prisoner exchange deal.
They stressed the continuation of efforts to achieve these goals, in a way that serves the interests of our people and strengthens national unity on the basis of resistance as a means to achieve liberation, return, and the establishment of the Palestinian state on the national soil with Jerusalem as its capital.
Earlier on Friday, Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh met with the Secretary-General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Fahd Suleiman, and they discussed efforts to stop the Israeli war on Gaza.
On the other hand, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that the negotiating delegation will leave next week to Qatar to continue negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal with Palestinian factions in Gaza.
A statement from Netanyahu's office said, "The head of Israeli external intelligence (Mossad), David Barnea, returned to Israel on Friday evening after a visit to Qatar, where he held an initial meeting with the mediators. The Israeli negotiating team will leave next week to continue the talks."
The statement added, "However, there are still gaps between the two parties."
According to official Israeli reports, indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel have resumed to reach an agreement on exchanging Israeli prisoners for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire in Gaza.
For months, mediation efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Hamas and Israel that guarantees a prisoner exchange from both sides and a ceasefire, ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian sector.
However, mediation efforts have been hindered by Netanyahu's refusal to respond to Hamas's demands to stop the war.
Previously, Palestinian factions agreed on May 6 to a proposed agreement for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange presented by Egypt and Qatar, but Israel rejected it, claiming it did not meet its conditions.
For the past nine months, Israel has waged a devastating war on Gaza with absolute American support, leaving more than 125,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, most of them children and women, and over 10,000 missing amid massive destruction and famine that claimed the lives of dozens of children.
Tel Aviv continues the war, ignoring two UN Security Council resolutions to stop it immediately and the International Court of Justice orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.